What's next?! Won't start!

[Bean93]

Ok guys I'm back for more help! I have a 1990 EFI Festy and after Several problems fixed and hopefully I'm close to being back to running!! The problem is the motor will turn over and will act like it wants to start but I won't ever start up! I have fuel to the rail and spark to the plugs... I also checked and found the timing belt slipped one tooth... I fixed the timing belt... So what would be the next thing to check?

[Aaronbrook37]

How much fuel do you have to the rail? Is your fuel filter in decent shape? What are your compression numbers like? Is the car in park if automatic? VAF plugged in?

[Bean93]

It has a brand new fuel filter.. I do not know how many psi is at the rail.. I haven't ran a compression check either... Also it has a brand new VAF on it!

[bravekozak]

Check the timing again. Maybe it needs to be advanced slightly? Double check the firing order and rotor position. It sounds like something small.

[Bean93]

It has to be something minor... Cause it tries to hit!

[Flyin4stroke]

Pull the distributor cap and check the rotor button, clean the cap. Verify the timing. Check firing order. Also verify you are getting air. Check the vaf movement.

[LittleHoe]

sounds like timing, could be related to air too, make sure everything is sealed tight from the airbox to the intake, a vacuum leak could cause you headaches while trying to time it..

[lessersivad]

Bean, where are you located?

If'n you're where it's been cold and it's low on fuel, you may have fuel line freeze up.

Even though you have fuel at the rail there is a chance you've got water in the system from simple condensation.

I just went thru this with my '89 F.I. Festy. Last week went to start it after running it the previous afternoon and it acted like it wanted to start but no joy. 1/4 tank of gas.

Waited a couple of days for it to get warmer, dumped in 1/2 bottle of Heet gas line antifreeze, rocked car and hooked up jumper cables.

It finally fired up after some cranking. Went and filled the tank and it runs like it did before.

Hope this helps.

[Bean93]

It has been cold here but only around 30 nothing major! I'll check all these things and see if I can find anything!

[Larry Hampton]

Is your fuel pump running?

[Bean93]

Yes it will pump fuel

[koRnhead]

You sure you have the firing order correct?

[bravekozak]

The firing order of all Festivas is 1-3-4-2 reading counterclockwise.

[Bean93]

I'm almost positive it is correct... I'll check it again though when I get back in town!

[dalebwilson]

Bean: As mentioned before, the rotor button in your distributer can go on in 3 different positions. 2 of those positions are not right and your car wont run. When the #1 piston is at TDC, the rotor button will be pointing at the #1 wire on the distributer. Just follow Brave's clockwise firing order above for 3-4-2.